A follow-up to Dr. Rad’s account of ‘driving while black’

A few days ago, we mentioned the experience recounted by Branko Radulovacki, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, of his encounter with a law enforcement officer while driving with an aide. His apparent crime, “Dr. Rad” said, was “driving while black.” Here’s what Radulovacki told his supporters:

“That phrase — “driving while black” — had come up at our children’s high school as part of a discussion of racism. Honestly, as a white male, I didn’t take it seriously. But I do now.

The officer asked us both for driver’s licenses — even though I wasn’t driving. He pulled Elliott [Smith] out of the car for a breathalyzer — which read .00, as he told the officer it would. When the policeman ran Elliott’s license, he told us it was suspended. Elliott produced paperwork proving that was incorrect. The police officer took his license anyway….

We spent the rest of the drive home talking about race relations and what it’s like to be a person of color in the South. In minority communities, there is profound distrust of a system that permits an officer to confiscate the ID required to vote just before it’s needed — especially if the “violation” isn’t one.”

On Friday, we received an email from Brittiny Barber Johnson, a media relations specialist from Georgia College in Milledgeville, who saw the mention and wanted to provide a detailed, chronological account of what happened.

From her email:

• County law enforcement unit noticed Mr. Smith driving a car without headlights illuminated and flashed his lights to alert Smith.

• Georgia College officer in vicinity noted Smith did not react to flashed lights by illuminating his headlights. A GC officer decided to institute a traffic stop.

• Traffic stop commences with GC officer explaining to Smith that he was pulled over for driving at night without headlights.

• Smith acknowledged he was driving without headlights because he was unfamiliar with the car.

• The GC officer asked for Smith’s driver’s license which was then reported as suspended.

• The officer returned to the Smith vehicle and asked Smith to exit the car. \

• The officer informed Smith that his license was reported as suspended, at which point Smith said he had documentation that proved his license was valid. The officer noted that he was compelled to take action on the information he received about the suspended license.

• The GC officer asked Smith if he had had any alcoholic beverages that night. Smith replied he had not, and the officer asked Smith if he would submit to a Breathalyzer test. Smith complied and he passed the test.

• The officer explained that Smith would not be able to drive the car and asked if his passenger had a valid driver’s license. Smith replied that he did.

• The officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle and asked the occupant if he had his license. The occupant handed the license to the officer who confirmed it was valid.

• The GC officer at this point explained to Smith that he would receive a citation for driving with a suspended license and that the officer would need to retain the license.

• The officer stepped away from the vehicle, wrote the citation and returned to the car.

• The GC officer explained the reason for the citation, noted the court date, informed Mr. Smith that if he indeed had documentation that reinstated his license, he should bring that paperwork to court with him.

• The officer apologized for the inconvenience of the stop and wished the occupants of the vehicle a safe trip home and bid them goodnight.

Ms. Barber informs us that video of the stop exists, but isn’t sure when it might be available. We haven’t had a chance to ask Dr. Rad about this development, but expect to see him Saturday morning.

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White Duke lacrosse players were treated crappy by a black prostitute and the media to include the AJC so give us a break about being racists against blacks. Heck, live in Fulton County to see black-on-white racism - it happens all the time here.

Surprised to see Jimmie not saying anything about the VA garbage going on under Obama - Jimmie boy really ripped into Bushie Jr, when the Walter Reed crap came out.

"Smith acknowledged he was driving without headlights because he was unfamiliar with the car."

Typical democrat - unfamiliar with a car just like being unfamiliar with running for a state political office. Pretty simple even for a liberal - do not start driving until you are somewhat familiar with the car.

The omission of what time the stop was initiated is important. Driving at dusk without headlights rarely results in a stop, and the officer would need probable cause to initiate a breathalyzer (and it appears no such cause existed). Plus, the license was surrendered, despite prima facie evidence that it was valid. If the guy can't vote, then it's an even bigger screw up.

So, what is the problem? From the written account it seems quite normal! Could it be a perceived problem by the occupants of the car?

Driving without the lights on at dusk or at night IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION! I drive a lot of miles and almost every day I see someone doing that. I will flash my lights to get their attention, and, maybe 9 ot of 10 times or more, THEY JUST IGNORE ME AND KEEP DRIVING WITHOUT LIGHTS! They should be stopped and charged with reckless driving!

Ah... what time of "night?" Why was a breathalyzer ran? What led the officer to run the breathalyzer test; what "evidence" did he observe? I've been stopped numerous times; I've NEVER had a breathalyzer test ran on me.

Now, police officers stop cars all the time. Most "drug stops" aren't drug stops. They're tail light out, high beam on, etc, etc, etc The police cannot make arbitrary stops so they look for ANYTHING wrong so they can examine the occupants. Now if you don't like "driving while black," call it "I can pull you over for anything while driving."

As for the keeping the license, I'll bet "the good ole boy" kept it to cover his rear end once he saw there were no drugs involved. Cops can't get in trouble for following orders of those higher, and the computer "said" the license was void.

For those of you who don't believe in the "driving while black" experience just read about the Judge Jack Camp who was sexually involved with a stripper. However, the fact that she was a stripper and a drug user didn't bother him; that she once had a black live-in boyfriend infuriated him to no end. I'm convinced that there are people out there like him that feel that there is no higher calling than to attempt to humiliate and put as many minorities in their place as possible.

So a media person from this officer's work place provides a detailed summary of events. That's interesting. It is a known fact Georgia has always had problems with listing wrong information about drivers licenses and insurances. Probably why the aide had that paper work because he knows what can and did happen. You do know the place he probably got the documentation (Georgia DDS) told him to carry the documentation in case he gets stop. Such a detailed summary. However it would have been nice to put the time of the initial stop. That would answer exactly how dark it was. Out of county tags? Middle Georgia? A black guy and a white guy in a car? BTW the officer probably knew who they were when he stopped them. You think he did not run their tag before approaching the vehicle. Also I have looked for years for an actual race card. People always get accused of using them. I always ask black people to show me theirs but no one seems to know what they look like. Where is one located?

Both DWB and DWH (Driving While Hispanic) do exist and to say otherwise is just plain stupid. Some "officers of the law" will manufacture the excuse to pull a driver. No surprise here. If you wish to believe otherwise you are living in another world and need help. Reality of today's world - racism and bigoted people wear uniforms.

Was it dark? You don't have to have your lights on until 30 minutes after sunset (or it used to be)...and if some body, including a policeman had flashed their lights at me I don't know if my immediate reaction would have been to turn on my lights, particularly if I thought they already were. And if the guy produced the paperwork on the spot, why did the cop end up requiring him to come back to court. 'Played the race card'? You telling me 'the officer' would have done the same thing to a couple of white guys? You sure? I damn sure wouldn't want to go through life in South Georgia 'while black', and I was born there.

Of-course, anyone is capable of racism, especially if they are among the thousands of disenfranchised, marginalized, working poor minorities in fulton. Shame on them.

Or perhaps, shame on an officer, who should know better, and who has a higher moral obligation. Also, this is someone whos actions have repercussions on someones life, their right to vote, ect. Sometimes as an officer of the law/ public servant, you have to make a call...."is this really worth it ?" Is this really justice, or is this just some heavy handed form of profiling? Specifically the alcohol test...

Believe me ! You turn over enough rocks, and anybody will have something to be nailed for. None of us are squeaky clean here. The question is, when is it appropriate to do so at your own discretion as a public servant in the name of the law.

@OldPhysicsTeacher I do not drink but have been given a couple breathalyzer test and even had to get out of my car and walk a straight line. Inconvenient yes but not that big a deal. Would have been a big deal if I had a chip on my shoulder or saw everything in terms of color.

@Mustang100At worst, this could be just about grabbing attention through old-fashioned speech absent the ability to let money do the talking. And, if so, and the allegation is indeed unfounded as you suggest, how is that more reprehensible than the deceptions that are assaulting us from the ads?

@Crankshaft@Point The Smyrna Magistrate calls his court openly the revenue court. He says, I tell you what it is. If you come to court, he lets you pay the fine without points. He will not allow anyone under 21 to plead guilty to certain driving offenses without their parents in the courtroom. As he says, it will adversely affect your parents insurance rate, and they will not be to happy.